We’ve Always Belonged: Beyoncé, Identity, and the Truth About Being American

Every July, America puts on a show.

The flags wave. Fireworks light the sky. Messages of freedom and pride fill our feeds. For many, it is a time of celebration. For others, it brings up quiet questions.

Do we truly belong here? Where do we fit in the story of this country?

For those of us who carry layered identities—Black, Latinx, Afro-Latinx, multiracial, first-generation, queer—this question is not just about patriotism. It touches something deeper. It affects how we move through our families, workplaces, schools, and communities. It influences how safe we feel in our bodies and how grounded we feel in the world.

This year, that question felt different. Some of our Ashe Counseling team had the honor of attending Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour stop in Chicago, thanks to the generosity of BeyGOOD. What we witnessed was not just a concert. It was a healing moment. It was an artistic reclamation of identity, pride, and space. It reminded us that we belong because we have always been here.

Beyoncé stood on that stage and made it plain. We are not asking for approval. We are claiming our place. We are not trying to fit in. We are remembering who we are.

Understanding our identity is not optional. It is essential to our mental health and well-being.

When we know who we are, we are less likely to internalize shame. We begin to recognize which messages are ours and which ones we inherited from systems, history, or trauma. We can trace the difference between what we truly believe and what we were taught to believe in order to survive.

When we do not understand our identity or when it is erased or rejected, we feel the effects in every part of our lives. It can show up as depression, anxiety, disconnection, people pleasing, or emotional exhaustion. We may begin to hide parts of ourselves in order to feel safe. Over time, that hiding creates a deep ache. It pulls us away from our purpose and weakens our confidence.

On the other hand, when we feel rooted in who we are, we show up differently. We become more grounded, more creative, and more connected. Our relationships improve. Our nervous system begins to relax. We stop constantly scanning the room for signs that we are not welcome. We begin to take up space without apology.

This is not just about pride. It is about protection. Belonging is a psychological need. It is not a luxury. It is linked to lower stress, better emotional regulation, and greater resilience. People who feel a sense of cultural and personal identity tend to navigate challenges with more strength and clarity. They know where they come from, and that knowledge becomes a compass.

Therapy can be the space where we reconnect with that compass. It can help us explore the parts of our identity we have suppressed or never had words for. It can help us understand why we respond the way we do and what we need to feel safe and seen. It can help us separate who we are from who we were told we had to be.

This is the work we do at Ashe Counseling. We help people feel whole again. We honor the cultural context. We speak truth to the experiences that often get overlooked. And we hold space for the grief and the joy that come with reclaiming our identity.

We are proud to serve clients across Chicago and Texas who are doing the brave work of healing. We know it is not always easy to name your truth or step into your full self. But we also know this. You are not starting from scratch. You are building from strength. Your identity is not a problem to fix. It is a foundation to stand on.

So this July, as you move through celebrations, conversations, and moments of reflection, we hope you remember this.

You belong. You matter. You do not need to ask for permission to be here.

You are already part of the story. You have always been.